Los Angeles Times

Lamont Dozier: An appreciation of a song craftsman who wrote hits with heart and soul

Singer Lamont Dozier speaks during the 51st Annual Grammy awards pre-telecast show held at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles, California.

LOS ANGELES — Lamont Dozier was in his downstairs home studio, singing "My World Is Empty Without You," the classic Diana Ross and the Supremes hit he had composed with his Motown partners Eddie and Brian Holland. He was in mid-song when the unexpected happened.

The legendary songwriter's voice cracked and he became choked up. Although he had written the song and had sung it himself hundreds of times, he became overcome, so much so that he couldn't finish.

"The song was just pouring out of me, and then all of a sudden the emotion took over," Dozier explained during a in his spacious home. "It was overwhelming, and I had to regroup. All these memories just rushed in, of the people and friends

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